Laya Healthcare follows VHI in price hike

A day after VHI hiked many of its plans by an average of 3%, it is reported that some Laya Healthcare customers could be facing a 10% increase.

The company has around 500,000. Its last price rise was in April of last year.

Insurance companies have hit out at the Government's move to charge health insurance policy holders for the use of a bed in the country's public hospitals.

Yesterday, VHI boss John O'Dwyer said he recognised the enormous financial pressures facing customers, but said the price hikes were being forced by the new charge on private patients using public hospital beds.